Seatbelt use promotion system and method

Abstract

Seatbelt use is promoted by determining whether a seat is occupied and then determining whether the seatbelt associated with the seat is buckled. When the seat is occupied and unbuckled, user control of an entertainment system associated with the seat is overridden. In video-equipped entertainment systems, a video encouraging seatbelt use can be played, such as an informational video. When the seatbelt is latched, a reward audio or video clip may be played prior to allowing user control of the entertainment system.

1. A method to encourage seatbelt use, the method comprising:
 determining whether a seat is occupied; 
 determining an age classification of an occupant of the seat; 
 determining whether a seatbelt associated with the seat is buckled; 
 overriding of a user-controlled operation of an entertainment system associated with the seat when the seat is occupied and the seatbelt is unbuckled; 
 providing a message on the entertainment system, the message based on the age classification of the occupant; and 
 allowing user-controlled operation of the entertainment system when it has been determined that the seatbelt is buckled. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein the seat is coupled to an automotive vehicle and the overriding of the user-controlled operation of the entertainment system is further based on the automotive vehicle traveling above a predetermined threshold speed. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1  wherein the seat is coupled to an automotive vehicle and the overriding of the user-controlled operation of the entertainment system is further based on an ignition of the automotive vehicle being in an on position. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing a rewarding output on the entertainment system when it has been determined that the seatbelt is buckled, wherein the rewarding output provided is based on the age classification of the occupant. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1  wherein the seat, the seatbelt, and the entertainment system are integrated into an automotive vehicle. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 the entertainment system is integrated into a vehicle and comprises a video display and input ports, with the input ports adapted to couple with a portable, user-provided electronic device; and 
 the overriding of the user-controlled operation comprises disallowing output from the portable, user-provided electronic device from displaying on the video display. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1  wherein the seat is a first seat and the seatbelt is a first seatbelt, the method further comprising:
 determining whether a second seat is occupied, the second seat also being associated with the entertainment system; and 
 determining whether a second seatbelt associated with the second seat is buckled, wherein the overriding of the user-controlled operation of the entertainment system is based on one of: 
 the first seat being occupied and the first seatbelt being unbuckled; and 
 the second seat being occupied and the second seatbelt being unbuckled. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1  wherein the age classification of the occupant is determined by detecting a weight of the occupant. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1  wherein the entertainment system is deemed to be associated with the seat when a person occupying the seat is able to benefit from the entertainment system. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9  wherein the entertainment system includes a video display and the person occupying the seat is in a position to view the video display. 
     
     
       11. A seatbelt use promotion system in a vehicle, the system comprising:
 a seat having an associated seatbelt and an associated occupancy sensor; 
 an entertainment device coupled to the vehicle and associated with the seat; and 
 an electronic control unit (ECU) electronically coupled to the occupancy sensor, the seatbelt, and the entertainment device, the ECU disabling control of the entertainment device by an occupant of the seat when the ECU determines that the occupant is in the seat and the seatbelt is unbuckled, the ECU determining an age classification of the occupant based upon a signal from the associated occupancy sensor, and the ECU commanding a message on the entertainment system, the message directed at the occupant and based on the age classification of the occupant. 
 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 11  wherein the seatbelt is coupled to the vehicle, the seatbelt has a spring-loaded retraction system, the ECU determines that the seat is occupied based on a signal from the occupancy sensor and determines that the seatbelt is unbuckled based on an amount of payout of a belt portion of the seatbelt with respect to the spring-loaded retraction system. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 11  wherein the seatbelt use promotion video comprises an instructional video on buckling the seatbelt. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a vehicle speed sensor electronically coupled to the ECU, wherein the ECU further bases the disabling of occupant control of the entertainment device on when the ECU also determines that a vehicle speed is greater than a predetermined threshold speed. 
 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 11  wherein the entertainment system comprises a video display integrated with the vehicle and the message commanded by the ECU is a seatbelt use promotion video to be played on the video display. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 15  wherein the age classification determined by the ECU is based upon an approximate weight of the occupant detected by the occupancy sensor. 
     
     
       17. A method to encourage seatbelt use, the method comprising:
 operating a seat occupancy sensor to determining that a seat is occupied by an occupant; 
 determining an age classification of the occupant based upon at least one of an estimated weight of the occupant and an estimated size of the occupant; 
 determining that a seatbelt associated with the seat is unbuckled; 
 overriding user-controlled operation of an entertainment system associated with the seat when the seat is occupied and the seatbelt is unbuckled; 
 displaying a seatbelt use promotion video on a video display associated with the entertainment system, the seatbelt use promotion video being based on the age classification of the occupant; 
 providing a rewarding output on the entertainment system when it has been determined that the seatbelt is buckled, the rewarding output being based on the age classification of the occupant; and 
 allowing the user-controlled operation of the entertainment system after the rewarding output has been provided.